WashingtonWashington posts yearly inmate indigency rates and adjusts them for inflation
Washington’s corrections department uses a $100 account limit to define indigency, posts the rate each year, and begins inflation adjustments in 2029.
What it does
The law treats an inmate as indigent if their institutional account has less than $100 in disposable income on the request date and throughout the previous 30 days.
The department adjusts the indigency amount for inflation every four years starting July 1, 2029, and does not lower it if the index falls. It also posts the rate each year.
Argument forInmates could use the yearly posted rate to see the income limit the department applies when deciding whether someone is indigent.
Argument againstA person whose account balance changes may qualify on some request dates but not others, because the test looks at the request date and the previous 30 days.
More detail
The law defines an indigent inmate as someone with less than $100 in disposable income in their institutional account. This definition applies to people committed to the Department of Corrections, including people in facilities and some people living in the community under department custody. The person must have less than $100 on the day they request to use funds and during the previous 30 days.
The Department of Corrections adjusts the indigency amount for inflation and publishes the rate. These rules apply to the indigency amount used for people in Department of Corrections custody. The department uses the most current seasonally adjusted consumer price index for urban consumers. If the index would lower the amount, the department keeps the prior amount. Starting July 1, 2027, the department must post the rate on its public website and in an area inmates can access at each correctional facility within five business days of July 1 each year.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 24Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 24Chapter 205, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 24Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 12President signed.Major
- Mar 11Speaker signed.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#10). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Passed final passage; yeas, 57; nays, 38; absent, 0; excused, 3.Passed House
- Mar 11House concurred in Senate amendments.
- Mar 3Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#17). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 3Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended.
- Feb 27Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 25Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 24Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 24Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 24HS - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).Minor
- Feb 24Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 18Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Human Services at 8:00 AM.
- Feb 17First reading, referred to Human Services.Minor
- Feb 13Third reading, passed; yeas, 57; nays, 36; absent, 0; excused, 5.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#3). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 13Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 131st substitute bill substituted (CS 26).Major
- Feb 11Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 4Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 2Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 2CS - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Feb 2Executive action taken in the House Committee on Community Safety at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 27Public hearing in the House Committee on Community Safety at 4:00 PM.
- Jan 16First reading, referred to Community Safety.Introduced
Criminal Justice